Wednesday, November 21, 2007
It was a trick!
No, of course there was no flight. Still waiting as of 8:30... they're suggesting we take off at 9:10. So in other words, 10 minutes LATER than the original delay. Which I wouldn't mind at all except they sent this urgent missive at 6:30 suggesting the plane was waiting for us all at the gate and about to take off.
Then the gate agents had no info. Then the status kept moving but never showing a new time. After an hour I finally figured out there was no flight forthcoming.
Again, really wouldn't have minded if I had just been relaxing up in the lounge. But thanks to poor communication, we all had to sit around at the gate until it became obvious we weren't going anywhere.
I hate flying.
Then the gate agents had no info. Then the status kept moving but never showing a new time. After an hour I finally figured out there was no flight forthcoming.
Again, really wouldn't have minded if I had just been relaxing up in the lounge. But thanks to poor communication, we all had to sit around at the gate until it became obvious we weren't going anywhere.
I hate flying.
On time!
Holy moly, they got another plane. My flight is sitting at the gate and starting preboard. I'm going hooooommme!
Ok JFK, I apologize for dissing you.
Ok JFK, I apologize for dissing you.
Truth in advertising
The "real time" status on the FAA website finally updated. JFK is now red, "delays over one hour". Yeah, no kidding.
By the way, shout out to the husband, who strongly urged me to take a flight instead of the train from manhattan to albany, 'cuz those trains are so UNRELIABLE.
Mmm hmm...
By the way, shout out to the husband, who strongly urged me to take a flight instead of the train from manhattan to albany, 'cuz those trains are so UNRELIABLE.
Mmm hmm...
How do you cure delays? Change the definition!
Well, after a 2 hour ride in, I'm hitting the first delay. My 6:50 flight now takes off at 9PM ("But you'll board at 8:30!"). Traffic out of midtown was heavy but not unreasonable for a holiday.
To make the weight bearable, I spent the $25 for the daypass to the Delta lounge. Hey, thanks to the delay, I'll get my money's worth out of it.
For the record, it's probably worth the price for the odd trip with a long layover. Free food and fermented drink, comfy chairs, wireless access. Busy as heck today but any other day would be quiet as a tomb in here, I'll bet. Showers for those who just stepped out int'l flights, not a bad deal.
So, in case you're wondering how my flight can take off 2 hours late and not count as a delay, it's because the delay is on the "inbound leg". Translation : the plane is stuck at the previous airport. Ergo JFK has "no delays".
At least I'm not stuck in the Calcutta-esque scene downstairs. The best part is this lounge actually has a balcony -- you can sit in your comfy chair drinking wine and watch the lower classes swarm below.
Airports. Bringing back the BEST parts of travel!
To make the weight bearable, I spent the $25 for the daypass to the Delta lounge. Hey, thanks to the delay, I'll get my money's worth out of it.
For the record, it's probably worth the price for the odd trip with a long layover. Free food and fermented drink, comfy chairs, wireless access. Busy as heck today but any other day would be quiet as a tomb in here, I'll bet. Showers for those who just stepped out int'l flights, not a bad deal.
So, in case you're wondering how my flight can take off 2 hours late and not count as a delay, it's because the delay is on the "inbound leg". Translation : the plane is stuck at the previous airport. Ergo JFK has "no delays".
At least I'm not stuck in the Calcutta-esque scene downstairs. The best part is this lounge actually has a balcony -- you can sit in your comfy chair drinking wine and watch the lower classes swarm below.
Airports. Bringing back the BEST parts of travel!
Hmm, an un-delay?
According to the FAA "real time" airport status, JFK has NO delays coming in or going out as of now. Delta hasn't posted one specifically for the flight, either. LaGuardia and Newark have departure delays, so I'm unclear as to how this works -- perhaps JFK is using some magical airspace only they can see...
I'm also looking out from the UN bldg over 1st avenue right now and the pretty low volume traffic appears to be moving swiftly... is it *possible* that I'll get to JFK in less than the 2.5 hours it has required for the last 6 weeks?
Now there's irony -- the one time I pad my schedule I'll end up sitting in the airport for 4 hours waiting for my plane. Maybe the 2 solid days of harping the story on CNN has scared everyone else into to leaving sooner.
About time to shut down and begin the airport voyage....
I'm also looking out from the UN bldg over 1st avenue right now and the pretty low volume traffic appears to be moving swiftly... is it *possible* that I'll get to JFK in less than the 2.5 hours it has required for the last 6 weeks?
Now there's irony -- the one time I pad my schedule I'll end up sitting in the airport for 4 hours waiting for my plane. Maybe the 2 solid days of harping the story on CNN has scared everyone else into to leaving sooner.
About time to shut down and begin the airport voyage....
Delay 1..
Checked in last night and printed the boarding pass this AM. As of the morning print out, there's now a message that the flight is oversold, and they're looking for volunteers.
Oh joy.
Oh joy.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
It begins...
It's about 8:40PM on Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. I'm in NYC, working at the UN. Tomorrow at 2:30 my trek will begin. I'm checked into my flight, (Delta 6044), the car to pick me up at 1st/42nd is reserved and on schedule... what could go wrong?
The itinerary:
2:30pm - Limo to the airport. This is a 90 minute commute on a good day. Anybody want to predict slightly longer times for Thanksgiving Weds?
6:50pm - Scheduled take off of Delta flight 6044 to Albany. I'm hoping that 4 hours is enough time to drive 12 miles AND get through airport security. Of course, our friends at the Department of Making Travel Slow and Unrewarding have already spiced up the holiday travel with a brilliant efficiency plan - boarding planes even EARLIER! That's good. I really enjoy just sitting on the runway for an hour, getting to know I might get to do it for 2 or more thrills me to no end.
I'm not sure how rushing people onto planes to sit on runways for LONGER stretches of time helps, but hey, I'm not a smart Homeland Security person.
If everything goes as scheduled, I will be in Albany by 8:45PM, meaning it will only have required 6 hours to go about 180 miles; I'm beginning to regret not renting a car already...
The itinerary:
2:30pm - Limo to the airport. This is a 90 minute commute on a good day. Anybody want to predict slightly longer times for Thanksgiving Weds?
6:50pm - Scheduled take off of Delta flight 6044 to Albany. I'm hoping that 4 hours is enough time to drive 12 miles AND get through airport security. Of course, our friends at the Department of Making Travel Slow and Unrewarding have already spiced up the holiday travel with a brilliant efficiency plan - boarding planes even EARLIER! That's good. I really enjoy just sitting on the runway for an hour, getting to know I might get to do it for 2 or more thrills me to no end.
I'm not sure how rushing people onto planes to sit on runways for LONGER stretches of time helps, but hey, I'm not a smart Homeland Security person.
If everything goes as scheduled, I will be in Albany by 8:45PM, meaning it will only have required 6 hours to go about 180 miles; I'm beginning to regret not renting a car already...
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